Normal Street Median • Urban Outfitters • Shores of Maui • Christine Kehoe & DMV

Wednesday, September 30, 2009	Normal Street project finally underway Several Hillcresters gathered at Blaine & Normal Monday morning as the city and community members broke the ground at a ceremony for the long awaited Normal Street median project. Councilmember Todd Gloria received a $149,250 check from the Uptown Partnership by their executive director Carol Schultz. That money, collected from area parking meters, along with city funds will be used for this final phase of a $1.6 million master plan for University Avenue. The project, estimated to take 50 days to complete, will provide an additional 14 parking spaces for the eastern side of our neighborhood. Councilman Gloria said he hoped a new day had arrived for Hillcrest parking with other exciting options to pursue such as the DMV, AT&T lot, Pernicano’s and more. (Although the U-T’s Michael Stetz had another idea for George Pernicano’s old restaurant today.)
Tuesday, September 29, 2009	“...in 2007 I successfully introduced legislation to allow a public-private partnership to demolish the Normal Street building and construct ‘green’ DMV offices, retail, and housing on the site. A modern facility would make DMV visits more comfortable and efficient, and a redeveloped parcel with homes and stores would better complement the surrounding neighborhood.” — State Senator Christine Kehoe re: the new Hillcrest DMV facility
Monday, September 28, 2009	Urban Outfitters to open October 1st The former location of Corvette Diner at 3946 Fifth Avenue (between University & Washington) has been transformed into a trendy retail outlet for the chain store Urban Outfitters. The storefront is scheduled to open next Thursday, October 1st. Contact information and store hours have been added to the Urban Outfitters website making this store a reality. It will be open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 9pm and from 11am to 7pm on Sundays. No news about CB2 that insiders had told us would be located in the rear of the large storefront. CB2 is a smaller, version of Crate and Barrel. Hillcrest also welcomes Banana Leaf, a new Indian restaurant that recently opened across the street from Urban Outfitters in the old Casa de Madera location.
Sunday, September 27, 2009	“I’m not sure that one person is going to fill that vacuum. He’s got so much history. He holds on to some of these issues like a hungry animal you have to wrestle to the ground.” — Former Council President Scott Peters re: Port Commissioner Chairman Steve Cushman
Saturday, September 26, 2009	“I was against the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage nationwide, and I still think that the American people should be able to play this out in debates. But...I changed my position.” — Bill Clinton in an interview airing tonight on CNN with Anderson Cooper
Friday, September 25, 2009	Snorkeling tip for the day... the best (no ka oi) spot to find turtles in South Maui is just off the reef in front of Makena Surf. if you enjoy swimming with the green giants or just watching them take naps on the bottom (or in cleverly hidden caves), check out this spot. — Shores of Maui #108
Thursday, September 24, 2009	“I don’t know about any of you, but there’s nothing sexier to me than a newly paved street.” — Councilman Todd Gloria at a press conference extolling City Heights’ street repairs
Wednesday, September 23, 2009	Normal Street median project moves ahead After years and years of waiting the Normal Street median project north of University Avenue will break ground with a ceremony on Monday morning beginning at 11:15 in front of the KTU+A office at 3916 Normal Street (at Blaine). At this month’s Hillcrest Town Council meeting Julie Ballesteros, who is overseeing the project for the City made a presentation. Neighbors had many questions, but appeared to get vague answers. Improvement will include 15 new paid spaces and one less unpaid space. Parking will be diagonal. The new median north of University Avenue will not be as wide the current one and will be landscaped with trees and drought tolerant plants. TriGroup construction was awarded the contract which is supposed to take 50 days. The city will maintain the landscaping for six months and then turn it over to the MAD (Maintenance Assessment District). The neighbors pointed out numerous traffic-related problems with the plan. Among the issues of concern were: the need for a left-arrow turn from eastbound University to Normal; the need for a crosswalk at Blaine & Normal; and the need for a 4-way stop at Blaine & Normal. Many residents brought up about how the plans were deviating on what the City talked about with the homeowners previously. According to the Uptown Partnership’s website — in February 2006 and September 2007 the Partnership sponsored neighborhood meetings to review the City of San Diego’s preferred alternatives for reconstructing the median. People asked if there were plans to extend northward. When the City representative said no, the resident pulled out the City’s plan from 1996. Ernie Bonn from the UHCDC suggested that the City check in to the DMV redevelopment. Rebuilding the median on Normal Street between University Avenue & Blaine Street will add more than 15 parking spaces. The Uptown Partnership has allocated $149,250 from parking meter revenues for construction costs. Former Councilmember Toni Atkins (District 3) added $104,000 in Developer Impact Fees (DIF), so the project has been fully funded.

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